• Product Applications Open: June 3, 2026

• Product Applications Close: August 19, 2026

• Applicant Notification: October 26, 2026

• Public Announcement: November 4, 2026

For purposes of the Program, the following definitions apply:

• Product: Consumer technology hardware or software, including services or accessories. May include enterprise B2B technologies. Excludes processes, biologics, drugs and materials science.

• Application: A complete submission for one (1) Product

• Applicant: Individual or entity submitting the product Application

• Product Category: The official CES Innovation Awards categories as defined and updated by CTA

• Honoree: Product scoring above category threshold

• Best of Innovation: Highest-scoring Honoree(s) in a category

Product Eligibility

To be eligible, each Product must:

• Meet all applicable CES eligibility requirements, as determined by CTA, and pertain to the consumer technology industry. Eligible products include consumer and workplace technology products, services, content and related accessories.

• Be new to market or represent a significant and demonstrable advancement over a prior version.

• Be first available in market between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. “In market” means commercially available for purchase or general release, excluding pre-orders or announced availability.

  • In-Market Date Changes: If a Product’s market availability changes to fall outside the eligibility window, the Product will be deemed ineligible and may be disqualified without refund.

• Not be solely in pre-sale status (crowdfunding listings permitted only if Product otherwise meets market availability requirements).

• Not be intended for use with illegal substances, weapons, or unlawful activities.

• Not fall within excluded categories of processes, biologics, drugs and materials science.

Updated Products:

Products submitted as a new iteration of an existing product must clearly demonstrate meaningful and innovative advancements beyond prior versions. CTA may determine, in its sole discretion, whether such advancements are sufficient for eligibility.

Category Eligibility & Submissions

Products must be submitted to the most appropriate CES Innovation Awards Product Category (“Product Category”), as defined by CTA.

• A Product may be submitted to up to four (4) categories

• Each category submission requires a separate Application and fee

CTA reserves the right, at its sole discretion to:

• Determine whether a Product aligns with a Product Category

• Reassign a Product to a different category without Applicant consent

• Reject or disqualify any category submission that does not appropriately align with a Product Category

Products that do not align with any Product Category may be disqualified.

Applicants are responsible for selecting category submissions. CTA is not responsible for misalignment between the Product and selected Product Categories.

CTA may utilize automated technologies, including artificial intelligence or similar tools, to conduct an initial review of submissions for administrative purposes, such as assessing whether an entry has been submitted to the appropriate category or meets basic submission requirements. These tools are used solely to assist with preliminary sorting and do not replace human assessment. No personal information will be processed through artificial intelligence tools.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be an individual, organization, or authorized agent representing the Product.

• Be at least 18 years of age (19 in Alabama and Nebraska).

• Have full authority to submit the Product and bind the organization to these Official Rules.

• Designate a primary point of contact for Program communications. CTA will only communicate and share application information with the point of contact(s) designated in the Application.

Any applicant that is a company, or majority owned by a company, listed on the United States Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List or Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List (“Listed Entity”) is not eligible to be selected as a Program honoree. CTA reserves the right to disqualify the Applicant without refund if Applicant is or becomes a Listed Entity. CTA may, in its sole discretion, prohibit or restrict participation in the Program by any company or any entity majority-owned by a company identified in the List of Equipment and Services Covered by Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act (FCC Covered List) or any other government-restricted or entity lists. Applicant represents and warrants that it is not a Listed Entity. CTA may determine Applicant eligibility and restrict participation at its sole discretion. Failure to meet these requirements may result in disqualification without refund.

General Eligibility Conditions

• Participation in the Program does not require exhibiting at CES 2027

• All Products and Applicants must comply with these Official Rules and applicable CES requirements

CTA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to:

• Request additional information at any time

• Verify eligibility and submission accuracy

• Disqualify any Application that is incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, or non-compliant

No refunds will be issued in cases of ineligibility or disqualification.

• One (1) Application per Product (except when submitting a product set that works together as a system, such as surround sound speakers sold together, which requires only one (1) collective application). CTA reserves the right to determine whether multiple submissions constitute the same or substantially similar Product. Duplicate or substantially similar submissions may be disqualified or consolidated without refund.

• Applications must be submitted via the official Program platform

• Email or hard copy submissions will not be accepted

Each Application must include:

• Minimum of three (3) unique Product images (high-resolution JPG/PNG) that demonstrate its functionality and innovation

  • Logos do not qualify as Product images

  • Concepts or in-development Products may include renderings or diagrams

• Optional video that demonstrates the Product (maximum three (3) minutes)

• Complete and accurate Product information

Additional requirements:

• All materials must be provided in English (including captions/subtitles)

• Files must be legible, functional, and accessible (not corrupted or otherwise unviewable)

Content Standards:

All materials related to the Application must be appropriate for a professional business audience. CTA may disqualify any submission that includes explicit or simulated sex, virtual pornography, nudity, violence, and discriminatory elements. CTA reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, if a Product is not eligible for consideration.

Submission Responsibility:

Applicants are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all submitted materials. CTA may limit or restrict post-submission edits.

CTA may disqualify any Application containing false, misleading, or unverifiable information.

CTA reserves the right to request additional documentation, substantiation, or product access to verify any claims made in an Application. Failure to provide such information upon request may result in disqualification without refund.

All application fees:

• Must be paid in full at the time of submission (credit card only)

• Are final, non-refundable and non-transferable

Applications with unpaid balances may be disqualified.

Exhibiting Member Rate:

Applicants must be both an official CES 2027 exhibitor and an active CTA Member at the time of submission. CTA may verify eligibility and process valid post-submission adjustments if requests are received in writing at InnovationAwards@CTA.tech by December 4, 2026.

Failure to pay outstanding application fees may result in disqualification for current and/or future Programs.

Applications are evaluated by independent industry experts based on:

• Engineering and functionality

• Design and user experience

• Innovation and uniqueness

Award Designations

• Honoree: The class of Products that score above the scoring threshold in each category.

• Best of Innovation: Highest-scoring Honoree(s) in each category.

CTA reserves the right not to award any or to award multiple Best of Innovation recipients depending on the number of submissions received. CTA does not guarantee a minimum number of Honorees or award recipients in any category.

Judging decisions are final. CTA does not disclose scoring or provide feedback.

CTA may revoke any award if submitted information is found to be false, misleading or non-compliant.

Applicants will be notified of final status by October 26, 2026.

Public announcement of Honorees and Best of Innovation recipients will occur on November 4, 2026.

CTA may use and promote Product and Application information (excluding personal data) across CES platforms and related marketing channels. Applicants may promote their award status, subject to logo guidelines, after CTA’s Public announcement.

Embargo Option

Applicants may elect to embargo public announcement until January 4, 2027, 4 PM PST.

• Embargo selections must be made during submission or after notification

• CTA does not accommodate custom announcement dates

• Promotion may begin only after the embargo is lifted

Failure to comply with embargo requirements may result in revocation of award status.

Honoree and Best of Innovation recipients will receive:

• CES Innovation Awards logo usage rights (subject to guidelines)

• Trophy

• Promotion across CES platforms

CES Innovation Awards Showcase:

The Innovation Awards Showcase is a special display of the participating 2027 Honoree products across all award categories at CES 2027. CES attendees are welcome to visit the Showcase from January 6-9, 2027, during CES show hours.

Eligible participants must:

• Be both a CES Innovation Awards Honoree and CES 2027 exhibitor

• Provide a Product sample or video of the Product

CTA reserves the right to determine Showcase participation and requirements.

Approximate Retail Value:

Total estimated maximum Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of all awards: $35,000. Program awards are non-transferable prizes and may not be redeemed for cash. No substitutions are permitted, except that CTA reserves the right to substitute an award of equal or greater value. All awards will be granted provided they are properly claimed in accordance with these Official Rules and a sufficient number of eligible Products are received.

By entering the Program, Applicant:

• Agrees to comply with these Official Rules

• Acknowledges that all CTA decisions are final and binding

• Waives any claims of ambiguity or error in these Official Rules

CTA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to:

• Interpret and enforce these Official Rules

• Determine eligibility and compliance

• Disqualify any Application or revoke any award

• Modify, suspend, or cancel the Program

CTA reserves the right to make all final determinations regarding the interpretation and application of these Official Rules.

Privacy Statement:

CTA is collecting information (“Data”) in the application for the purpose of entering Program. CTA will collect and process this Data in the United States pursuant to these Official Rules and the legitimate interests of CTA for Program submission. In order to enter Program, this information is required. By submitting information in the application, Applicant consents to the Data being processed and used for the specific purposes set forth below:

• Data Administrator: Consumer Technology Association, 1919 S. Eads Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202, USA.

• Personal information collected includes Applicant’s name, company name, job title, phone number, mailing address and email address.

• CTA will retain this information for seven (7) years.

• Data will be used to send transactional emails and correspondence directly related to the Program and to process Program applications.

• The Data may be shared within CTA including, but not limited to, use for outreach on CTA membership and CES sales, promotional purpose through CES marketing and communications and will be shared with third parties directly related to Program as detailed in the next point.

• The Data will be shared within the United States with OpenWater Software LLC, as the data processor for Program. The Data will be shared with Program judges for honoree evaluation. The Data may be shared with agents under contract via confidential and secure methods for the purpose of marketing opportunities. The Data may be shared with other U.S. agents under contract with CTA, including Freeman, via confidential and secured methods as part of the CES Innovation Awards-related display opportunities. CTA may disclose Data to respond to law enforcement requests and as required by applicable law, court order, or governmental regulations.

• Data is collected and processed with appropriate security following applicable data privacy and protection laws/regulations.

• CTA’s full Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Official Rules.

• If Applicant needs to correct information or obtain a copy of the information submitted, Applicant may send a verifiable request to InnovationAwards@CTA.tech. If Applicant desires to access or delete submitted information, requests may be sent to InnovationAwards@CTA.tech. CTA will honor the request in compliance with applicable privacy regulations. A request for deletion of submitted information will render that Submission ineligible for the Program as CTA requires certain information to process and retain Program applications. Voluntary withdrawals of this nature will not receive a refund.

If an Applicant submits personal information on behalf of anyone other than themselves, they represent that they are authorized to complete the Program application and that the information provided is accurate. Applicant agrees to be solely liable for any damages resulting from any information provided to CTA. Applicant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CTA, its officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates from all liability, damages, judgments and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) for any claims brought by or on behalf of any third party arising from conduct, misconduct or negligence in completing an Application on another’s behalf.

Rights Granted to CTA:

CTA reserves the exclusive right to interpret all conditions regarding Program without claim for damage or recourse of any kind. Except where prohibited and subject to confidentiality limitations, by entering the Program, Applicant agrees that CTA may use elements of the Application (excluding PII) throughout the world, in perpetuity, in any media, without limitation or compensation to Applicant. By entering the Program, Applicant waives privacy/publicity rights and other legal or moral rights that might preclude CTA’s use of the Application, and Applicant agrees not to sue or assert any claim against CTA relating to their use of the Application.

Applicant selected as an honoree grants CTA permission, without compensation or prior approval, to use its Application in promoting this or similar awards programs in the future.

Restrictions and Additional Information

By entering, Applicant agrees to abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of CTA, which will be final and binding on all matters relating to Program. By entering, Applicants agree to waive any right to claim ambiguity or error in these Official Rules.

i. Employees of CTA, its subsidiaries, sales representatives, advertising, promotion and all other service agencies involved with design, execution or fulfillment of Program, and members of the immediate families (defined for these purposes as parents, children, siblings, spouse and domestic partners) or households (whether related or not) of any of the above are not eligible to participate.

ii. CTA and its clients, officers, directors, agents and employees are not responsible or liable for: (1) garbled, illegible, incomplete, damaged, misdirected, late, lost or failed entries; (2) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet or computer malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (3) errors or delays in transmission; (4) any condition caused by events beyond the control of CTA which may cause Program to be disrupted or corrupted; (5) any losses or damages caused by participation in Program or acceptance or use of the prize; or (6) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with Program.

iii. By applying to Program, Applicant represents and warrants that (a) they own all rights in Product or has the necessary licenses to intellectual property used in Product; (b) Product does not infringe the intellectual property, privacy or publicity rights or any other legal or moral rights of any third party; and (c) Product does not contain any defamatory, libelous, illegal, dangerous or sexually explicit material. It is Applicant’s responsibility to properly attribute any and all trademarked or copyrighted terms used in their application.

iv. CTA reserves the right to limit, restrict, or disqualify participation in the Program at any time for any reason. Specifically, CTA may prohibit Applicant from participating in Program, in its sole discretion, if Applicant fails to follow the Official Rules or act: (a) in a manner it determines to be not fair or equitable; (b) with an intent to annoy, threaten or harass any other entrant or CTA; in a manner that endangers the safety or well-being of any person; or (c) in any other disruptive manner. CTA decisions are final and binding.

v. CTA reserves the right to rescind any awards granted to Applicant who has misrepresented their application or Product.

vi. CTA reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate or suspend Program should electronic viruses, malicious software attacks, unauthorized human intervention, systems malfunctions, failures, difficulties or other causes beyond the control of the CTA and its agencies corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper play or conduct of Program.

vii. By applying to the Program, the Applicant agrees not to state or imply that CTA has endorsed the Product, that the Product has been tested by CTA, or that its scientific principles have been validated by CTA as part of the Program. Furthermore, Applicant may not state or imply that the CES Innovation Award logo or designation serves as certification of the Product’s safety and efficacy, or establishes any claims made concerning the product. Applicant warrants that it will not make any claims regarding Product government approval or certification without proof of such certification. The Applicant also agrees not to suggest that any other product, family or series, or any related item - other than the specific product recognized - is a recipient of the award.

Disputes and Governing Law

By participating, Applicant permanently and irrevocably releases, indemnifies, and holds harmless, CTA and its officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, contractors and all others associated with the development and execution of Program (“CTA Indemnified Parties”) from and against any injury, loss, damages or costs incurred by CTA Indemnified Parties, including court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees, caused or claimed to be caused by Applicant’s participation in the Program and/or the acceptance, awarding, receipt, use and/or misuse of the award, including without limitation intellectual property disputes, personal injury, death, and/or property damage. Applicant agrees that CTA is not responsible for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to Program and/or the award(s). If Product, samples of the Product, or any other company materials are supplied to CTA for inclusion as part of CES

Innovation Awards-related display opportunities, Applicant and its affiliates agree that CTA and/or a CTA Indemnified Party is not liable for any claim, liability, loss, damage or expense to the supplied samples or materials with the exception of gross negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of CTA. Applicant must insure Product for full value. Further, Applicant agrees that if they fail to retrieve Product, samples of the Product or any other company materials supplied to CTA for inclusion as part of the CES Innovation Awards-related display opportunities, CTA reserves the right to discard Product, samples of Product or any other company materials supplied after reasonably attempting to contact Applicant to return said items to their possession. In the event that the preceding release and indemnity clauses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or void for any reason, Applicant agrees that, by entering Program, (i) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action in connection with Program, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (ii) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering Program, but in no event attorney's fees; and (iii) Applicant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses. Applicant agrees that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of CTA or Applicant in connection with Program, shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. Applicant consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia.